“Please,” I whispered. “Don’t do this?”
Why did he want me badly enough to force himself on me? Was it simply because he found me attractive or was I merely collateral in a unspoken pissing contest between Lucien and his capo?
My heart pounded so hard I could scarcely hear anything as he bent over me and his dark eyes found mine. His lips parted and I caught the flash of his white teeth in the darkness, bared in a primal expression. I wrenched my hands fruitlessly back, trying to free myself from his iron grip, but he ignored me.
His fingers curled around my panties and he tore them from me in a swift movement. I cried out, pushing back against him, at the sudden pain as they ripped away. Then his fingers pushed between my thighs and all the blood rushed to my head in a wave of panic.
Some kind of primal, survival instinct kicked in and I disengaged from my body. I was barely aware of his touch past the roaring in my ears. Sickness welled in my stomach and I pulled against his grip until he released my wrist. I clamped my free hand over my mouth as the world spun.
“So you do still have your maidenhead. That’s a surprise,” he said. “I’d have taken you the moment you turned eighteen.”
He pulled his fingers back and brushed my dress down. The world came back into focus as I stared up at him. There was no remorse on his face; he’d probably done this to other women enough times that it didn’t bother him anymore. Tears of confusion and shame filled my eyes and slipped down my chin.
“What did you do?” I whispered.
“Don’t worry, I didn’t break anything,” he said casually. “I’ll admit I’m a touch jealous of Lucien.”
My throat was thick, like a lump was stuck halfway down, and I reached up and wiped the tears that slid down my cheek. He sighed and his thumb came up and ran underneath my eyes, smearing the tears across my skin.
“Your makeup is running a little,” he said softly.
“I’d like to go back inside,” I said, forcing my voice to steady. “I need to use the restroom.”
Ducking from his grasp, I started across the rose garden, leaving my ripped panties in a heap on the dewy grass. He walked me back to the mansion without speaking and when we entered the front hallway, he took me by the upper arm.
“You’ll not speak of this to anyone,” he whispered, his breath hot against my ear. “If you do, swear to God, I’ll make you and your fiancé pay for it.”
My heart thudded in my ears as I nodded. I was desperate to get away from him, and when he finally released me, I fled down the hall to the bathroom at the far end. It was empty and I ducked inside and slammed the door and locked it.
I just needed a moment to process what had happened, what he had done. Where was Lucien and why had he let Romano go off with me?
But I knew the answer to that question already. Lucien didn’t have the power to stop Romano from doing anything. If he wanted to declare our engagement void and take me as his mistress, he could do so and no one could stop him. If he wanted to keep assaulting me at parties, no one had the power to stop that from happening. Not even Lucien.
It was a long time before I felt ready to leave the bathroom.
Chapter Five
Lucien
Watching her with Romano made my blood pound in my ears like a jackhammer. It was everything I had to keep my composure, to keep from crushing my glass in my fist. To keep from crossing the room and wrenching her from his arms.
I narrowed my eyes as he leaned forward, his mouth close to her ear, and whispered something. And she blushed and said something back with her eyes lowered. It was too much, I wasn’t going to be able to control my expression.
I strode from the dance floor and out into the hall, cutting across to the kitchen. My mind was a whirl of images, of Olivia on the floor of her bathroom, Olivia in the car beside me with her legs crossed and the arch of her foot on full display, Olivia walking down the hall in that red dress that showed off every curve in her body.
I was getting hard from the cocktail of arousal and anger flooding through me. I desperately needed a minute alone to cool down. The door at the far end of the hall opened and a slender, blond serving girl stepped out with a tray in her hand. Every nerve in my body zeroed in on her and she caught my gaze and faltered. She was pretty in her short, black dress and her legs were long and reminded me a little of Olivia’s.
“Can I help you, sir,” she said softly.
I knew that Romano hired women who were willing to hand out sexual favors as an extra service in between waiting tables. And I knew exactly what this girl was asking.
Taking a moment before I answered, I composed myself fully, concealing any emotion on my face. She stood quietly before me, her eyes following my every move. I hated this, hated that I was going to use her, even if she’d expected it.
“In the bathroom,” I said shortly, gesturing to the one on the other end of the hall.
I took the girl by the wrist and ducked into the bathroom and locked the door. She drew back against the counter, her blond hair falling around her face as she caught her breath. I stared at her for a moment, my chest heaving.
“Get on your knees and suck me off,” I said. “You offered, so go on and do it. Or was that all talk?”